Assassination of Memories
Chapter VIII – Hunter of Truths
*All hiding in a closet*
Neofreak: (scared shitless) Akiko doesn't own—
White Wing: (whispers) Shh! Twihards can hear fear
Wolf: (whispers) they can? *doubtful*
Tristan: (whispers) won't we have another angry mob if we don't have a declaimer?
White Wing: (whispers) Doubt it
Jake: (whispers) actually yes. One of Akiko's older stories got bad mail from reviewers when she forgot to do the declaimer four times in a row
Logan: (whispers) what happened?
Jake: (whispers) she stopped the story because of all the negative comments
Wolf: (whispers) Ouch
*Jake nods*
Tristan: (whispers) so how long are we going to be in here?
Neofreak: (whispers) about five or six chapters
Tristan: (whispers) might as well get on with the story
Everyone else: (whispers) Yep
Twihard mob: Akiko doesn't own Maximum Ride or Pretender
Logan: (whispers) man I gotta go
Everyone: (whispers) hold it Logan!
Shadows' POV
I ran a hand through my hair heaving a sigh. In the dim light of my lamp I was working on images from the series of scenes from my dreams last night, I was in the basement having that the Ride kids were tailing me. I smelled them following after me, Tranq, Bronze, Tale and Dobry when we got off the bus, hiding in the forest as they followed us to keep out of our sight. Rose had complained that her dance practice was interfering with her shopping date with her friends however I got her to go to dance knowing the girl would complain even more if she missed the class after school. I stared at the drawing in front of me, a sketch of Angel just when she screamed at the other house in the mountains. I had one of each of them by themselves or together with others though the page was blank past the people or what they were holding or wearing. Fang's eyes peered over a laptop screen from the drawing beside me, Iggy and Gazzy worked on a bomb with a Mickey Mouse clock jutting out from underneath Fang's Laptop sketch. Nudge bounced in one picture holding a t-shirt, Max glared at me from a picture beside The Girls' Beg looking very deadly. Why was I seeing these things? What did it mean? I had more of Iggy than anyone, Gazzy in most of them with Iggy either building a bomb or something else. Some drawings were just flashes nearly all were whole visions I saw. I stared at the first one I had seen of Angel trying to figure out what had stood in front of her, I didn't really see it. Well there was that and the one girl I got with Iggy. She was crying on his chest soaking his shirt, the flash had come and gone so quickly I knew I lost most of the picture, I had to image some lines that had been blocked by something. I placed the finished Angel's Terror aside picking up Comfort to the Unknown staring at it. I remembered the girl had long ash blond hair, white skin and sobbing onto Iggy's chest while he wrapped his arms around her. Who was she? Who was she to him for that matter?
Okay I needed to drive. I took the pictures (twenty-three in total) up to my room putting them in a huge wooden box locking it with a small key I slipped into my pocket. Galloping down the stairs a grabbed a key chain from the key rack on the wall of the stairs telling Jared I was going for a drive. Branklin had weird laws, kids as young as fifteen were legal to drive here; I went to the slightly smaller green barn next to the main red one, opening one of the doors closing it behind me. It was a garage that Tranq, Jared and I had built, with three nice looking cars that were stored where the van was not, I casually walked over to the motorcycle Jared had gotten specially made for me. A custom Harley Davidson, with leather seat and a running panther stretched out on both sides, a furious bird with wings out spread for me to look down at when I get on. I got seated down starting it up and revving the engine getting a vicious roar from the bike. I loved that noise; slowly I used my toes that touched the ground to roll the bike out closing the door by leaning back. The wheels spun, lurching off spitting wind in my face, rippling my hair. I roared down the drive, cats darting out of the way and birds flying out of nearby trees. Scarring the crap out of a bunch of drivers by drifting onto the main road I sped down the slightly empty road, going 'round the slow pokes by passing in the lane going the opposite direction. Very soon I was out of Branklin, just out on the mountain road with no one else around. There was a city just off a road I knew, after half an hour I pulled into the opposite lane and onto the shoulder. Unlike before it was quite hidden now but I could make out the small forest-taken-over black Volkswagen pushed a distance into the forest, I got off the motorbike walking the heavy vehicle up behind the Volkswagen covering the bike with leaves and other things until it blended. I took off through the forest tracking down my scent from two months earlier, running on all fours. After going to the Caves so many times I could get there just by memory, though following scent gave me the fastest and sure fire way to get to the pack. The Dead-ones had been on the decline ever since I was attacked when Tranq and I first discovered this untouched by humans paradise, their smell finally dominated by the werewolf pack. A howl announced my arrival, it was Willow. I slowed down to a walk on two feet footsteps coming closer and closer to me.
"It's been awhile now, we were wondering when you were going to visit." Cain said appearing from the forest in front of me and walked beside me as I passed. He hadn't changed much since that day, other than his hair got longer then he cut it a little shorter than it had been before. We continued to the Caves Giles jumped down from a high tree in attempts to scare me. "Squirt it's been awhile where have you been?" Giles said ruffling my hair like he always did when he saw me. I came every couple weeks while I was in Jared Rehab though started going to see the pack on special occasions. "Hadn't heard from you in so long I thought you were dead." Giles grinned. "I don't die that easily." I grunted Giles nodded, "Yeah I know, you're too stubborn." I punched him hard in the arm. He laughed running ahead like a child, I rolled my eyes. "You cannot blame him he's missed you." Cain said I snorted while Willow's smell trotted closer. Her wolf body broke through the trees; she jogged alongside me whilst I scratched her head as if she was Ana. "Nice to see ya too Will." The corner of my lip pulled up into a smile. Suddenly she was standing beside me so I let my hand drop. "Your way overdue for a recital you know." She smiled sweetly I rolled my eyes again. We got to the lake, the pile of boulders standing eight feet tall appeared with the entrance of the Caves when the lake came into view, Giles' scent had run down there just a few moments before. We descended through the open entrance the musty smell of the Caves filling my nose welcoming me home. Though a new smell was down here too I looked questioningly at Cain. "His name is Hunter; he was hiking up here during the Moons and I happened to bite him. It was just a while ago, his first transformation is due near June 26th." Cain answered. Ooh that date sounded familiar. We came into the main tavern, Katrina, Giles and the kid Hunter was there. He looked around eleven or twelve with fiery red hair, yellow-green eyes and dark skin from being in the sun for long periods. He took one look at me, his first reaction was to jump back, horror on his face, and then he became angry launching at me. Idiot. I grabbed one of his out stretched hands stepping to the side pulling his arm up behind his back and pinned him down on the ground.
"I'm a different person but it doesn't mean I won't kill you." I hissed in his ear, the same throaty growl I had done yesterday erupted from his mouth while he bared his fatally sharp white teeth at me. Now it was Cain's turn to look at me questioningly, I blew a strand of loose hair out of my face. "Hunter, more commonly known as Body606748-35OP. I saw him in the mess hall, the youngest there for a couple days until the Copies became adult looking. Why'd ya leave?" I asked coldly. "You've gotten talkative." The air hissed through Hunter's teeth as I pulled his arm further up his back threatening to pop his arm out of its socket. "I was sick of the way the Erasers were treating me." Hunter sputtered I let go of him towering over the boy. I didn't recognize his scent until I saw him; the human/scaly brimstone smell was bathed in the musty fur smell of werewolves. "Draco hybrid, must be odd to be a Lyc." I smirked making Hunter growl as he stood up. "Okay you two enough of that." Cain said sternly looking from Hunter to me. A puff of smoke seeped through Hunter's nostrils as he snorted shooting off through the tunnels in an odd bumbling gallop. "First stager." I snorted coldly Cain gave me a look. "A lot has happened to him, the night I attacked that boy he attacked back because he had become so savage being out in the forest for so long." Cain said. "Dracos are like that, they don't get enough food they become as savage as a 'wild' werewolf." I said remembering things I've seen in my life. You might not believe it but these things lived close to where you probably live occupying any little space of forest they can, Draco creatures, demons and creatures you wouldn't find pleasant in the least. Werewolves and Dead-ones? They are all around you; you just don't know it, they live like normal humans; Dead-ones being the cause of unsolved crimes and disappearances, werewolves chaining themselves up in their basement three times out of each month. I know because I've seen and smelled it, a Dead-one killing a human, a werewolf chaining himself down in his basement to stop from killing anyone. That's why werewolves don't get along with Dead-ones, their complete opposites. Dead-ones kill humans and werewolves try not to kill humans, you get the picture.
"Hunter will be back soon then he'll just treat you like someone he knows, he's just like that." Will said giving me a reassuring smile. "I knew something bad would happen when the black cat came around." Katrina said rolling her eyes. "Lay off Kat it's always good to have Shade around." Giles said with a toothy grin. The second Katrina snorted I knew where Hunter had learned it from. "So is there a reason why you came back bitch?" Katrina said acid dripping off her voice to which Cain sighed. My dog growl turned into an aggressive bark, I gritted my teeth together. "Don't push me." I hissed. "Katrina stop it, and usually there is some reason you come Shadows." Will pointed out. "I've got a gap in my memory recently." I said and told them what I remembered.
"You've seen the Stone Host?" Giles said his mouth gaping open like a fish. I nodded Katrina whistled. "Who?" Cain asked. "Kid named Nick at my school. But I think they lied about their names." I said having updated the pack about what has happened so far. "So then his name is Fang." I finished. "Well it is only June 4th so I don't understand why you're having problems Shadows. Do you want us to move closer to the town to keep an eye on things?" Willow asked. Nope, I shook my head.
"Can I come to the town with you?" Hunter asked from the other tunnel connected to the tavern. I had smelled him coming up knowing he heard us. I shrugged, it would be possible better if he came, and maybe Neo's attention would be divided. "I'm not sure Hunter I mean with you first Moons coming up—" "I'll come back in time." Hunter insisted cutting Cain off. Cain looked at me, "Are you sure Jared would be okay with another person in the house?" I nodded. Cain would always cave, he said alright. "Whoo-hoo!" Hunter cried punching the air.
Max's POV
"Oh my goodness this place is so beautiful! I would love to live here, wouldn't you Max?" Nudge said for the fifth time taking a deep breath of the crisp mountain air. I had to admit the place was nice, and it only had the three people we had seen not counting Amberlynn. We had followed her up here, losing her in the forest for a bit until we found her walking towards the lake with two people, having seen a third just a little while before. Right now they were probably underground, going down into a cave entrance by the lake. We had positioned ourselves high on the mountain side covered with cliffs and caves, watching the entrance for Amberlynn to come back out. She had left her house at around noon or just passed, the sky was just starting to go turn colour, the water of the lake a mixture of blue and light orange from the sun.
"Kind of reminds you of home huh?" Fang muttered and I knew he was talking about our old house in the mountains, I nodded sadly. That was our first house and we were driven out of it like any other place, we didn't have any problems there. There we weren't stalking after I girl that knew Fang's name who could easily be an Eraser. Angel dangled her legs over the edge of the cliff we were on her feet swinging back and forth, Celeste in her hands thinking while she stared at the entrance. "There are five people down there with Amberlynn but I can't read any of their minds. They've got weird blocks up." Angel said thoughtfully. "That's okay sweetie." I told her. "Two of them are coming out." Angel said.
We all moved closer to the edge our raptor vision making it possible to see Amberlynn and a boy around maybe Nudge's age come out of the cave like we were looking through binoculars. Nudge rattled off to Iggy what she was seeing while we all watched. Amberlynn was wearing those aviator glasses of hers making it impossible to see her eyes. We were too far away to hear but I could clearly see Amberlynn and the boy with her walk quickly up the other slop of a mountain while the boy's mouth moved as he talked to Amberlynn, sometimes smoke with seep out of his mouth or nostrils (don't ask me what that's about). She answered a bit more than she would with Dune, nodding ever so often that smirk of her's plastered on her face. Sometimes the boy would use his hands mostly like he was punching, choking or even blocking; Amberlynn would nod as if to agree. They seemed to be talking about things that happened before like they hadn't seen each other for awhile, sometimes it would look like Amberlynn would laugh with him. At one point Amberlynn mimed shooting something, the boy went into a dramatic shaking as if horrified with what she did with a smile on his face. They were walking above the main ground but not too high up, it would probably be a painful roll down the steep twenty foot slope though if they fell over the left side. At one point I could clearly read Amberlynn's lips as she asked the boy when he left, from where I didn't know. He answered back with the same night you did looking over to Amberlynn then smiled. He ran towards the closest tree and to my shock jumped to the branch eight feet in the air speedily climbing to the top, blowing a large puff up to the sky from his mouth. "Is he smoking or something?" Gazzy asked. "I don't see a cigarette." I told him. "Neither do I!" Iggy grinned, I rolled me eyes. How many times has he done that now? Iggy's grin faded he glanced slightly over his shoulder. "Ah, guys... we've got wolf company." He said just as a jet black wolf behind us growled. Everyone turned; the huge wolf bared its teeth snarling, the human dark brown eyes glared at us. Whoa wait human eyes! Since when did wolves have human eyes!? "Angel..." "Sorry Max." She said telling me she couldn't do anything.
The wolf threw its head back and howled, Amberlynn and the boy looked in our direction but we were too far away for them to see us. "Down!" I yelled jumping off the cliff to the large natural edge not far below disappearing into a cave with the Flock at my heels the wolf's howl echoing after us. We ran for what seemed like forever, until Iggy pointed us in the direction of where he heard wind. I could see the exit ahead; something jumped out towards me and ducked causing it to slam into the wall near me. It was huge, standing on legs that bent the wrong way, scales covering its entire body it's lizard head and tail made me think of some odd lizard man with really sharp teeth looking really ticked. "DUCK!" Gazzy shouted I dove towards the ground as the bomb went off, the lizard thing shriek in pain while I picked myself off the ground running to the edge of the cliff throwing myself off the ledge. The Flock followed quickly taking to the sky and speeding off away from the place knowing we had gotten ourselves way in over our heads. I looked back, the lizard thing stood at the ledge holding it's bleeding side, looking back and forth then up to the sky. Hopefully it couldn't see us, I looked around to make sure everyone was here taking one last glance back seeing the lizard thing had collapsed to the ground.
"Well that was a close one. I really don't need to be food for a dog or some lizard." Iggy said his eyes in my direction. "I've never seen something like that lizard guy; do you think he's a freak of nature or an experiment like us?" Nudge asked. I shook my head not really understanding what I had seen. I glanced over to Angel noticing she didn't look to good. I coasted over to her, "Hey sweetie you okay?" Angel sped up when I spoke anger in her eyes. I was about to go after her when Fang's wing flapped awkwardly in front of my like an arm stopping me. I knew that look, just leave it. I sighed looking up at Angel who flew ahead of the Flock. What was wrong?
'I don't like hurting things for no reason.' Her voice mentally echoed in my head.
Shadows' POV
"I decided to go stop them, and then the little guy threw a bomb at me." Hunter explained as Willow patched his side up. His scales in his Draconic form had stopped it from being too serious yet he was still bleeding, I remember his scales pulled of his body to his chest as he changed back, looking like he had slipped the lethal iguana head off like a mask while the scales moved to his chest grouping into a hard shell over his chest like armour. How could they follow me? I had mapped out their movement by scent, it was as if they dropped onto the cliff were Cain had found them waiting there since I came. Then their scent disappeared where I found Hunter like they had disappeared into thin air. "You didn't see where they went?" I asked he shook his head. "Nah uh, I even looked in the sky but they of course weren't there." Hunter laughed weakly. I liked this kid, only eleven years old but he had almost the same view I did, in other words he wanted to kill Artemis too, Kudos! "So we're going to go?" Hunter asked. I smirked nodding, Hunter gave me one swift nod jumping up, wincing slightly. "Alright just be back by June 19th. And try not to smoke too much when in public." Cain told Hunter. "I'll try to work on that, alright Shadows let's go." Hunter said.
We went off, even though Hunter was heavy I allowed him on my back to make faster time in a by running on fours to the Harley. "Sweet bike." Hunter whistled when I had let him off so he could walk to the bike. I picked a splinter out of my palm and a couple rocks out of the other hand. Man I needed gloves for that. The ride back was quite except for Hunter's cheering and begging me to go faster. This kid was fun; I went way past the speed limit rocketing into Branklin. Hunter put his nose to the wind taking a deep breath liking the new smells of the town. I slowed down so we wouldn't get a ticket, thought tore up the driveway as fast as I could go. "Nice place." Hunter commented as we got off the bike but with a sniff he recoiled. "I know, he's a brat and smug corpse but I have to live with him." I told Hunter putting the motorbike back into the garage. "So how old is he?" Hunter asked, I know Cain had already taught him how to fight Dead-ones. "Since the Great Plague." Hunter made a face. The cats were gone so Neo was home without me needing to smell him, as I came around the back of the house I saw him glaring at us from his bed room. I grinned waving at him, Neo shut the curtains. "Home." I said coming in, Hunter cautiously came in after me. "He can't kill you, Jared would kill him after." I told Hunter making him nod.
"Hey nice to see you—" Tranq stopped looking at Hunter then at me in question. "Hunter," I pointed at Hunter, "Tranq." I pointed to Tranq. "Hi." Hunter said. "Hey. Um... where'd you find him?" Tranq asked. "Cain's pack, can he sleep in your room?" I asked. "Sure, I'll get Rose to set up a bed for him. So what happened to you?" Tranq asked. I nodded to tell Hunter it was okay to answer, "Cain bit me during his Moon." Hunter answered hastily. "Ooh a newborn, as long as you don't tear me apart during your dreams you can stay." Tranq joked, Hunter smiled. As we showed Hunter around everyone was treating him like family (except Neo of course), Tale even tried to trumpet in his ear which didn't work out. "So you use to be from the Organization?" Jared said smiling fatherly at Hunter after we had explained things. We were sitting in the living room now, everyone was listening. "Yeah I left when Shadows did, though I kinda lost my human side when I starved." Hunter said Jared nodded to show he understood. Smoke escaped through Hunter's nostrils, he quickly tried to hide it though my hand on his shoulder told me it was okay with these guys. "Oh that is cool." Bronze said when Hunter allowed the puff out. "It's like a dragon almost." Hunter's flushed a little, "No one's said that before." He said getting shy all of a sudden. "Hey can you breathe fire or something?" Tale asked leaning forward. Oh yeah he can, I remember he torched one of the Erasers when they got him angry; Hunter nodded.
"Would you mind showing us?" Jared asked just as excited. Hunter's cheeks flushed from the attention, he looked to me. I gave him a nod. Hunter coughed a couple times, then took a deep breath, filling his mouth with air. He blew out through the small hole he made with mouth, fire leaping in a steady stream, out of nowhere Tranq produced a marshmallow on a stick roasting it on the fire Hunter created before Hunter ran out of breath and the fire stopped. He coughed a spark flying from his mouth, everyone cheered. Hunter's cheeks were getting redder; I nudged his shoulder knowing the smell of fire probably freaked Neo out. "Nicely done Hunter, now that's something." Jared said giving a little clap; Rose went off with a skip to make a bed for Hunter. "Thanks, I've gotten more bad things from that than good." Hunter said. "Good for keeping enemies at bay, especial Dead-ones." I said tilting my head towards the stairs. "I heard that." Neo's voice floated down Hunter glared at the stairs. "I said it so you could hear it." I said back with a snicker. Neo growled upstairs, Hunter growled back.
"Okay it's time to get to bed, you've got school tomorrow." Jared said. "TGIF tomorrow!" Tale sighed lugging up to bed. Bronze went up with Tranq; I pulled Hunter over as he followed Tranq. "Hey I need you to watch the kids you tried to stop today, there's something up with them. Since I have to go to school I can't but you can, will you do that Hunter?" I asked him. "Don't worry Shadows I'll watch them tomorrow, I'll find any secrets their hiding." Hunter promised me. "Thanks." I went up to bed getting changed putting my glasses on the headboard shelf. My head hit the pillow and I was pulled into a fitful sleep.
Hunter's POV
I wasn't tired; I laid on the foam mattress with my hands behind my head listening to all the noises with my new heightened senses. I guess that disgusting vampire stayed up all night, I could hear him breathing in the room on the other side down the hallway, probably sitting by the window. Tranq's even breathing was really loud, sounding like he was snoring into a microphone. Tale was talking in her sleep in the room she shared with Rose on the other side of the hallway, talking about hippos that were attacking Rose's hair. Jared wasn't yet asleep but he was going to be soon, Ethan had left awhile ago in a car to go somewhere, probably to the person that had their scent all over him. Bronze was out cold, Shadows' sleep wasn't as peaceful as anyone else, I could hear the sheets being flung all over as she tossed and turned in the room beside me. Cain told me it would be like this for awhile while I got use to the sounds I was hearing but I soon wouldn't be as fascinated with them as time went on. A mouse scurried across the floor, going into the walls where I could hear spiders crawling around. At first I had been freaked out with the world that was too loud, just the footsteps echoing through the caves had been unbearable pain to me ears; Giles' howl had made me scream which brought me in more pain. But when Cain had spoken he had been quiet, calming me down with his soothing voice and explaining what was happening to me. At first I had been horrified but when I ran I found myself running faster than I have even run, feeling powerful. Soon my ears became accustom to the heightened noises so it didn't hurt any more unless Giles howled too loudly, seeing as he wanted all of China and beyond to hear him when he caught something to eat. The notion of eating raw meat had sickened me at first but when Willow had offered some to me I founded that it tasted wonderful.
Right now I couldn't help but listen to Shadows tossing in her bed; I heard one of the sheets rip. I got off the mattress opening the door as quietly as I could and opened the door to Shadows' room. She wasn't tossing that much anymore; only her head would jerk over to the other side every so often. She left her curtains open so I could see her as clearly as the soft moon light would allow me. Her face was pained from a nightmare; I could see a pair of black wings quiver on her back to her ragged panting breath. Some her sheets were pulled back showing Shadows in a plum purple nightgown that was slightly damp at the top from the sweat dripping off her face, Shadows moaned in her sleep. I stood at the slightly opened door watching her wondering what she was dreaming about. "Yes Sir." Shadows whispered her expression changed to one I couldn't describe. Then she straightened completely out, stiff as a corpse with pain written all over her face; uh oh. I rushed over clapping my hand on her mouth just as she was about to scream. I could hear it, I knew the leech could too yet he didn't do anything. I took my hand off Shadows' mouth when she finished a tear rolled down her cheek. I quickly left the room, going to Tranq's room and opening the window there.
I jumped out landing on my feet in a crouch, taking off into the forest, the horses freaked out as I passed the stables. I ran faster and faster, the ground sloped slowly upward to where I could see the moon clearly which is where I stopped. It wasn't anywhere near the full moon but it was a moon nonetheless. I heard Giles howl when he was in human form, it sound quite cool actually and decided to try it for myself. 'What you do is just let it out, it comes more naturally when there's a moon for you to howl at.' Giles had told me. I looked up towards the soft glowing moon, I found myself sitting down, my head tipped farther up, my eyes closed and I howled. It felt wonderful almost like I was getting stronger; I took a deep breath and let out another happy howl. It echoed down the mountain and I felt kinda sorry for the town's people. Oh well. With another howl I wanted to continue but I was getting a little tired, the comforting sound faded away. I smiled happy with what I did, and then I looked towards the trees in front of me flaring my nostrils. Another werewolf? I hadn't smelled them when I arrived with Shadows but there a small white werewolf appeared violet eyes had a distant look in them. A female at that too, she stared at me with that far out look coming closer. Did Shadows know about this werewolf? The werewolf stopped a couple feet away from me, I looked her in the eyes yet it didn't seem like she even saw me. And then she threw her head back a glorious howl spitting from her mouth. I felt energized by this one; I could help but howl along. Mine was deeper than hers but still as magnificent all the same, we sung together in the werewolf way to the moon. When we had finished she came lying beside me staring dreamily at the moon. I ran my hand down her snow white back staring up at the night sky.
My eyes blinked open; I was lying on the foam mattress in Tranq's room. I sat up hearing them all down stairs. Tired I came down the stairs, Shadows was putting her bag over her shoulder at the door Tranq was getting his shoes on. I quickly eyed the gun in its holster attached to the belt around Shadows; her jacket covered the gun as she slipped the leather jacket over her shoulders. If she knew I was there she didn't show it opening the door and walking out with Tranq following behind. I listened, Shadows and Tranq walked down the drive with Bronze, Tale and Rose, Ethan wasn't back yet and Jared was gone, so was the leech thankfully. Man I wonder what Cain would say if I broke into someone's house? I got going anyway, knowing that some people would still be there at the kids' house. I sprinted after their scent coming up to a house quite a distance away hiding in the forest. Only two people were left in the house now, I could hear them talking. "I don't know, do you think they like it here?" A woman said sounding worried. "They'll be fine." A man said, he sounded oddly familiar. There was a bark from one of the two dogs that made them become silent for a moment. "Maybe we should take them for a walk," the woman suggested which just made it way to convenient. After a couple minutes the woman and man came out with two dogs though I didn't look at them much, backing up a couple feet.
Careful I told myself waiting five minutes after they turned at the end of the drive before slinking out of the bushed and to the door. Taking out my lockpick from my pocket I inserted it into the lock and got to work. Shadows told me they had just moved in and I didn't hear them set an alarm so I was okay that way. The lock clicked, I opened the door moving out of the way. Being over cautious I glanced past the door looking for cameras or scents that went in weird directions that would suggest any hidden ones. None, I went into the house closing the door. By the door was a hall rack for coats, and a table that was kind of full with a box underneath it. I could see the boxes dotted all over the place, I pulled the box out quickly going through it. Pictures, veterinarian degrees wait what's this? I pulled out several framed front pages of news papers all having one similarity. Wing Kids Disappeared, Bird Kids- Fact Or Prank?, Bird Freaks Spotted Over France. All the news papers were about these bird kids fuzzy images of kids with blurry shapes that looked like wings splashed on the front covers, the image too blurry for me to see the faces, I tucked one of them in a bag that was left at the door of Tranq's room for me, putting everything else back and pushing the box under the table.
The oldest girl I had jumped at slept down the hall on the first floor I got to her slightly empty room that had no boxes. I looked around seeing pictures of some of the other kids and two I hadn't seen. One girl was leaned on the tall pale kid, smiling her head off grinning almost exactly like him; I hesitantly put the picture in my bag. There were some folders on the girl's desk I glanced over them not making much sense out of them however I didn't put them in my bag. I went up the stairs staying out of the double doored room that seemed like the master bedroom, I left all the dressers in the rooms alone. One door opened up to a pink room with ballerinas, angels and princesses, the smell of a seven year old girl filled my nose. A bed took up a large corner of the room, with stuff animals and blankets almost making a kind of nest of things. There was a table with little figures with a box underneath filled with other seven year old things, I placed a little angel wind chime in my bag that was laid out on the table. The next room beside it was really colourful the whole room looked like an abstract rainbow, a fifteen year old boy slept here by the smell. A table with cabinet drawers underneath was scattered with wires and things I didn't really understand, the cabinets weren't locked for long and I found explosive things in there. One complete bomb was locked in the bottom cabinet drawer, from the look I needed to touch the two clock hands that stuck up from the bomb to set it off, wrapping some plastic on the two hands I carefully place it in my bag shutting and locking the cabinets back up. The room next to that was a little more regular with cars and diagrams of what looked like more bombs were folded into some books and even in the pillow of the bed. For a nine year old kid he took precautions to make sure no one found his plans that I put back in their original spots, in the corner of the closet was a couple small bombs hidden in a box and having one already I didn't take any more. I had to go across the hall to next room; it was average with a desk, printer, computer and a laptop both of which needed passwords, the bed was average with a little fridge stocked with food and Pepsi that I helped myself to one, hope the fifteen year old guy wouldn't mind. I didn't find anything really helpful until I found a journal hidden underneath the mattress. Can't read it now so I'll take this I though putting it in the bag too. The next room looked like the wall paper was made of posters, a CD player was paused with CDs scattered everywhere in their cases, this twelve year old girl could really give her room a good clean. The last one other than the master bed room didn't have anything of use so I got back out into the hall going towards the stairs. Suddenly the scent of the seven year old was at the door, I froze on the top of the staircase as she put her key in the lock.
Oh crap! I thought whirling around as the door I had relocked unlocked and opened; I fled down the hall and into the room with the mini fridge going to the window. I unlocked it desperately pulling on the window that was stuck while the girl passed her room coming down the hall to this one. I dove underneath the bed as the door opened, pushing as far back as I could. She was a little tall for her age with blond curly hair and big blue eyes; she went over to the desk sitting down at the laptop booting it up. Her fingers flew across the keys typing in the password; it was two words, seven letters in the first and four in the second, the only letters I caught was the third letter in the first word and the first letter in the second word.
X R
The desktop opened up, from there the girl looked through files trying to find the right one, after a couple minute's she did, printing it out. She turned off the computer and left, closing the door behind her and skipping down the hallway, stairs and out the door locking it behind her. I waited for so long to be safe that she didn't come back because her smell disappeared after she locked the door. Okay, strange. I got out from underneath the bed checking the printer. Bingo! It had a reprint button. I pressed it getting the page she did. Now this was the most strange.
Dear Fnick,
Didn't you get my message you little blogging fool?! God what is with you, you could have said something in your blog to tell me you heard me. Yeah I was telling you the truth Serenity is dead, the damned Director killed her! Though I've moved on I doubt you pyro won't, it's just a matter of time until he finds out. Such a beautiful fighter she was, such a resister. You should have seen how she fought through surgeries and experiments even though it put her in horrendous pain. She died because she resisted the last experiment and even as she died they continued on, and she died knowing it was Iggy's fault the reason why her life was ending. I remember her telling me she hated him after he left her and we kinda hooked up after that. Iggy didn't deserve her, only I did. But I'd be careful about what you put on that blog there; you don't want people finding you. Say hello to Shadows for me and Ari says hi.
Artemis
Max's POV
"Angel, where did you get this?" I asked holding the printed letter from Artemis in my hand. "It was on Fang's laptop." Angel answered. Fang and I had pulled her aside when we read the letter to question her. "How did you know it was on Fang's laptop?" I inquired Angel shrugged. "Ari's still alive?" Angel asked look at me. I shook my head, "No he can't be, and she's defiantly lying about Serenity hating Iggy." Fang stepped up I turned to him, "We need to figure out who this Shadows person is. If Artemis knows this person their dangerous." Fang said. "I know that Fang, we also need to figure out how she found out about Fnick." I said. After the time Fang had been put in the hospital I had too many close calls in revealing his really name so Iggy, listening to me say F— Nick, came up with a nick name for Fang; Fnick. I looked up and almost groaned, "Don't look now our mystery smoky boy is back." I said nodding my head towards the boy we had seen yesterday with Amberlynn. He was doubled over panting, Amberlynn looking at him uncertainly. Still panting the boy handed Amberlynn a piece of paper. She quickly looked at her eyebrows knotting together. You sure about this I saw her saw. Got it from there the boy said back. I saw her glance at me for a second afterwards folding the piece of paper and tucking it away giving the boy a smug smile. Nice job she said. I saw him say thanks and he left; well that made no sense.
I was tortured through history yet again after lunch; I heard Amberlynn muttering behind me. "A little blogging fool yet I want to tell you this." She muttered a little too loudly, I think she wanted me to hear. What she said made no sense, until I picked up on the 'little blogging fool'. Artemis had written that sentence, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, Amberlynn chuckled almost evilly. "Got a problem?" she coldly muttered in my ear when the teacher wasn't looking that chortle of hers rang in my ears as she pulled back. My breathing was becoming uneven a drop of sweat ran down my neck making me shutter. Man she was like a murderer from a horror movie, her tone always had that kind of feel. The next thing she said scared me senseless.
"If you make cake... I can make strawberry shortcakes."
My hand shot up and I excused myself for the washroom, Fang gave me a look as I practically ran to the door. In the washroom I dashed into a stall locking the door and leaned against it breathing deeply. How did she know that?! I panickly thought. Angel had said that to me just before she was kidnapped by the School when we lost our old home, when most of this crazy life had started. When we had escaped Fang, Iggy and I had been around ten, Nudge seven, Gazzy four and Angel two, then four year later Angel was kidnapped at age six, and now about a year after that Amberlynn says the exact same thing. Oh God what do I do? I thought. 'Live and let live, Max.' The Voice said. 'Live your life and leave others' lives alone.'
Got anymore unhelpful advice? I sourly thought pushing hair out of my face. 'Beware the wolf.' The Voice chimed. And what is that supposed to mean? As per usual no answer, if the Voice actually answered a question directly with something that made sense or even an answer that was jumbled I might go insane. Unlocking the stall door I went over to the sink splashing my face with water. God why does my life have to be so complicated? I thought letting the water drip off my face and into the sink turning the tap off. With a sigh I raised my head wiping off the rest of the water off with my arm. I looked in the mirror and screamed whirling around. Amberlynn smirked at me arms crossed, "Doesn't take much to scare you." She smugly said with a chuckle. "What is with you?" I blurted out. Amberlynn's smirk fell her face becoming a blank angry mask, her eyes flashed with a dangerous glint and her mouth became a white line. She didn't answer just like the Voice, I almost groaned out loud at the similarity. She didn't look pleased with my confrontation silently stalking out of the washroom the door closed almost as mutely. What the heck was that about? I went back to class and saw Amberlynn wasn't there, Mr Shields told me he had sent her to see if I was okay, "I'm sorry if she scared you at all, but I couldn't help to notice she was a little upset when she came back. She left right after that." I nodded going back to my desk. What had I said? She did have an attitude and I'd be surprised if no one said anything to her about it. And the teacher, why did he talk so calmly that she left, heck he wasn't even doing anything about it. Did anyone really care about Amberlynn at all or was she just a girl everyone would rather have gone?
I didn't see her throughout the rest of school, when I got on the bus with the rest of the Flock all of her family was there except Amberlynn, Dune gave me an odd look as if he was questioning me why she wasn't here. "Do you think Ari is alive? After coming back from the dead one time why wouldn't he come back a second time?" Fang asked me. "I don't know what Artemis meant by 'Ari says hi', I'm still trying to figure out how that message got on your laptop." I told him truthfully staring out the window. We didn't talk about it, everyone quietly hiked up the drive once we got off the bus. I had told Angel not to tell Iggy about the letter and by the way he was acting I guessed she listened. Mom greeted us at the door with cookies, so naturally I took a plate to my room getting started on my homework. I was thinking of things to write for a small essay looking at the little amount of photos I had and notice something. The one of Iggy and Serenity was gone. I started searching all over my room for it and I couldn't find it anywhere. "Max," I looked to the door where Iggy was standing, a worried expression on his face. "Someone took one of my bombs."
"Are you sure you locked the cabinet?" I asked him, Iggy nodded quickly. We were standing in his room now. "I don't know how they opened it they just did, and my door handle wasn't in the same position I put it in when I left. Someone came into my room and took my bomb from the bottom drawer." Iggy said. His room was very much a colour rainbow so when Iggy touched the walls he wouldn't be bored. "Max one of my wind chimes is gone." Angel said from the door, Fang was there too telling me that his fridge door had mystically opened while we were at school.
"Hey kids, have any of you seen one of your front page news that was framed?" Mom asked while we were talking. She had made a collection of any story we happened to make, none of the pictures had our faces clearly on it thankfully. "Mom was the door locked when you came back?" I asked since Total told us they went for a walk. "No but that's because I probably forgot to lock it." She said before leaving. Iggy, Fang and Angel looked at me boring holes into my head. I went around asking the rest of the Flock and Ella if anything was missing getting a constant 'no'. "Are you missing anything?" Iggy asked I sighed telling him it was a picture of him and Serenity. "Someone was here. It was the thing that's bothering Akila and Total." Angel said. "Well it's a person who stole some of our stuff and broke into our house." Iggy testily said.
Fang glanced at me; he probably wasn't telling me that he had something stolen too. "Well they didn't take the files we got from the Institution," yeah we still kept them, "so they weren't really looking for information." Fang muttered something I could hear. "What was that?" I asked. "They stole my journal." Fang mumbled pretty much just as quietly. Fang... had a journal... since when!? "What did you write in it?' Iggy asked. "Stuff about what's happened to us." He answered to my horror.
When you think of saving someone, you think it might take time. Eve found us, told us where the Organization was and we went off to go save Angel, Iggy, Serenity, Angelo, Owen and Livia. We get there half way through battle I drop in and help as a distraction then was told to leave right after. Iggy, Livia and Angelo came back without Serenity, Eve dead in Angelo's arms. We went to save them and all we did was distract and run and we still didn't get everyone out, I just don't understand it. Iggy was upset after, he didn't talk to anyone as we split from Angelo, Livia and two new boys, Shawn and Bryden, to go off. We haven't heard anything from them since. I just don't get how one person was left behind when everything was going so well. One person, and we saved seven others, how could we not save one more? I don't understand it.
Fang.
We find out Serenity's dead, the same day we move somewhere new. It's been about a year, it didn't seem very farfetched that Serenity is dead, but still is shocking. We haven't told Iggy, we can't. I'm still trying to make sense of it all, and she even died two days after everyone else escaped, or maybe the same day Iggy ran off. At the same time it's not believable that she's dead. She was hard going, sorta tough, how could she be dead. It was like Max's half brother, it seemed like he was going to be here chasing us and trying to rip our throats out, Serenity seemed like she was always going to be with Iggy. He's lost hope now; I know Max lost it a long time ago.
Fang
When she got the news
The phone hit the floor
She fell to her knees and cried his name
He had just kissed her lips
And both of the kids
Their lives will never be the same
At the end of her hardest day
The only words she could say were
I want you to live, I want you to love
I wanna go back to the way it was
To hear you say my name again
I wanna see your smile again
I want you to live
Takes all of her strength to go through his things
It feels like she's holdin' him again
The letters he wrote, the books that he'd read
and some of the shirts still have his scent
The picture in Florida
she holds to her heart and cries out loud
I want you to live, I want you to love
I wanna go back to the way it was
To hear you say my name again
I wanna see your smile again
Lying awake in the middle of the night
Trying not to let the kids hear her cry
She prays for answer or some little sign
She closes her eyes
and swears she
hears him say
I want you to live, I want you to love
I want you to go on and not give up
I want you to live, I want you to try
I want you to know that I'm alright
I want you to fall in love again
I wanna see you smile again and again
I want you... to live
George Canyon
I Want You To Live